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The University of Cincinnati is suing Crayola in federal court, claiming that the toy company’s
popular Glow products use technology the university has patented.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed the lawsuit on behalf of the university in U.S. District
Court in Columbus on Monday.

The complaint says that Crayola’s Glow Board, Glow Dome and Glow Book use light-source
inventions created by the school’s optical-physics researchers. It asks that Crayola halt its use
of the technology and pay the school damages for “willfully” infringing on the school’s patent.

Attorneys for the university would not comment. The school issued this statement:

“To protect our faculty who pursue useful research, and the taxpayers who support them, the
university will take action to defend the rightful ownership of our intellectual property.”

Jason C. Heikenfeld, one of three inventors listed on the university’s patent application for
the technology, heads the university’s Novel Devices Laboratory. The laboratory is a global leader
in reflective displays.

Crayola Glow toys allow users to draw with glowing markers on reusable surfaces, creating
pictures that glow in the dark on the toy’s flat or round surface. They are available at
stores.

A Crayola spokesman said the company could not comment on pending litigation.